Sixth grade students observed how traits are passed through three generations of the imaginary "Skittle Family". The experiment started with an assortment of skittles and some plastic cups! Each color skittle represented a different trait. Each plastic cup stood for a first generation member of the "Skittle" family. Two traits from each set of Grandparents were put into Mother Skittle and Father Skittle's cups. The parent cups were shaken up and then two traits were randomly chosen for the Skittle children. Traits are characteristics that are passed from parent to offspring. Traits are personal characteristics, things about you such as eye-color, skin color and blood-type that are special. The traits were then recorded on the Skittle Family Tree.